Clark County Extension Agent Roy Turley retiring after 16 years of 4-H, youth development

Officially, Roy Turley came to Clark County 16 years ago to work for the Clark County Extension Office.

He has certainly thrown himself into that job, working with local 4-H members, designing environmental camps and organizing the annual 4-H speech contest.

But friends and family members say that Turley, who will retire Jan. 2, has been a lot more than an extension agent. He has been a coach, mentor, friend and teacher. He has volunteered his time with all manner of youth organizations, officiating everything from Little League Baseball to YMCA basketball. He has officiated on Little League’s biggest stage, the World Series championship game in South Williamsport, Pa., and plans to keep active in youth sports during retirement.

“He just has a real passion for youth development. It doesn’t matter if it’s sports or 4-H,” Aleene Eury, a longtime friend and former co-worker said.

Aleene and her husband, Charles, first met Roy and wife Sharon 30 years ago at Winchester’s First United Methodist Church, during the Turleys’ first stint in Winchester. Roy was working for F.W. Rickard Seeds and already beginning his lifelong commitment to local youths.

“That’s Roy. He knows no bounds. If somebody needs to mow the grass, he mows the grass,” Charles Eury said.

Eventually, Turley’s career would take him to extension agencies in Perry County and Madison County, before returning to Clark County in 1996.

“All the places he’s moved, he’s been involved in that (officiating),” Aleene said.

For Turley, officiating is about helping young athletes learn.

“He will stop the game, and teach that child how to do it, and then start the game,” Aleene said.

Since he began officiating, Turley said he has assisted with five different high school sports and college baseball. Working with youth sports also has assisted him in his 4-H development activities, because it has allowed him multiple opportunities to get to know students.

“A lot of the sports I¿have done here in the county has been a meshing thing. I can do the sports at night and then see the kids at the school the next day,”¿Turley said.

Originally from Viriginia, Turley grew up in a farming family and came to Central Kentucky to study agriculture at Berea College, where he met Sharon. They have two children, Stacy and Steven, and five grandchildren. He is anxious to spend more time with them, and is grateful for his weekly Sunday night family dinners.

He also plans to work on a garden, volunteer more time with the Junior Achievement program and continue working with the North American Livestock Show. 

“I enjoy being around livestock. That’s been one of my favorite subjects here in the county,”¿Turley said.

With his children and grandchildren living locally, Turley said he is grateful to have Winchester as an adopted hometown.

“We’re here to stay. I’m sure I’ll get calls to help out with more stuff. It’s a wonderful community,” Turley said.

Extension colleagues will miss his enthusiasm and willingness to help with any and all projects.

“Roy is the kind of person that cannot sit still,and I can bet he will not sit still. Our job is to find things and have them out there in front of him to do,” Charles said.

As chairman of the Winchester-Clark County Parks and Recreation Board of Directors, Charles Eury said he hopes Turley will volunteer some of his time to helping with Parks and Rec youth programs.

“That’s what 4-H is about, youth development, and it just carries over into everything he does,” Charles said.

Although Turley said he has enjoyed his work over the years, he is confident about the timing of his retirement.

“I just woke up one morning and the writing was on the wall. ‘Roy, it’s time to change direction,’”¿Turley said.